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Dentistry and oral health courses
8 dentistry and oral health qualifications in Australia, from certificates to the degree, compared side by side: cost, duration, providers and where each one leads.
- Qualifications
- 8
on this page
- Providers
- 65
across all qualifications
- Median pay
- $63,000–$168,100
across roles in this field
- Employment growth*
- +28%
2 of 3 roles in shortage
Which of these is right for you?
We don't recommend one provider over another, but four things usually decide which qualification is the right one to start with.
- How much time can you give it?
- A certificate usually runs months, not years, and gets you working sooner. A degree is a multi-year commitment, but it's the only route into a registered profession like pharmacist.
- Do you want to study online, on campus, or both?
- Check each qualification's study modes below. Some are online only, some require placements or on-campus units even in a mostly online course.
- What's your entry point?
- If you're starting from school leaver or career change with no background in the field, the lowest rung on the ladder is usually the realistic start, not the top qualification.
- Which role are you aiming for?
- Some roles need one specific qualification. Others accept several. The roles section below says which qualification on this page actually gets you there.
The dentistry and oral health qualifications
8 qualifications, from certificates through to a degree. Each links through to cost, duration and the providers that teach it.
Certificates and diplomas
Certificate III in Dental Assisting
31 providersThis course trains you to work alongside a dentist, handing over instruments, keeping the treatment area clean and looking after patients through their appointment.
Certificate IIIDental AssistantView qualification →Certificate III in Dental Laboratory Assisting
6 providersDental laboratory assistants turn the impressions and bite records a dentist sends them into the plaster models, trays and appliances a patient's treatment is built on.
Certificate IIIView qualification →Diploma of Dental Technology
13 providersTraining for this diploma happens largely in a lab, where students learn to make and repair the appliances that sit inside someone's mouth: dentures, crowns, bridges, orthodontic devices and splints.
DiplomaDental TechnicianView qualification →
Degrees
Bachelor of Oral Health
5 providersBachelor degree3 yearsView qualification →Bachelor of Dental Science
3 providersBachelor degree5 yearsView qualification →Bachelor of Dental Surgery
3 providersBachelor degree5 yearsDentistView qualification →Bachelor of Dental Prosthetics
2 providersBachelor degree3 yearsView qualification →Bachelor of Oral Health Therapy
2 providersBachelor degree3 yearsView qualification →
What dentistry and oral health study leads to
The 3 roles where a dentistry and oral health qualification is a recognised route in, which qualification on this page it is, and what else you need.
Dentist
The direct route is the Bachelor of Dental Surgery. Complete a Board-approved professional dentistry programme and satisfy dental registration requirements. Oral-health, hygiene, dental-assistance and dental-technology awards are different routes. This catalogue groups awards: verify the chosen provider, programme and intake; the family-level link is not confirmation that every offering is approved.
Median salary for the role
$168,100
A year, before tax. Median for everyone in the occupation, not a graduate starting salary. Jobs and Skills Australia, ANZSCO Occupation data, February 2026.
Dental Assistant
The direct route is the Certificate III in Dental Assisting. Complete the required workplace hours and training; this is dental assistance, not hygienist or dentist registration.
Median salary for the role
$63,000
A year, before tax. Median for everyone in the occupation, not a graduate starting salary. Jobs and Skills Australia, ANZSCO Occupation data, February 2026.
Dental Technician
The direct route is the Diploma of Dental Technology. Dental laboratory construction and repair under the prescription of dentists, dental prosthetists or dental specialists; this is not registration for those prescribing professions.
Median salary for the role
$67,600
A year, before tax. Median for everyone in the occupation, not a graduate starting salary. Indicative estimate, not yet verified against official Jobs and Skills Australia / ABS data, Estimate.